Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-02-21

OF the question Of increasing the approximation TO,
the Potomac river improvement but not TO ALL
Aside entirely from the direct saving in dollars
and cents which can be accomplished by making
the present outlay sufficient for the needs OF the
work, it is worth while TO consider the indirect
saving OF both time and money by the speedy
ameoration OF the sanitary condition Of the CAPT
tai city. 1t Is not many years since portions OF
washington were noted for unhealthfulness
In those days the west end OF the city had not
worked back any considerable distance from the
river, and the fats with their periodical exposure
of decayfng refuse. filled the air with miasm when
ever the weather was warm. Since the improve
ment began the city has steadily advanced In
healthfulness, though the White House and its
nefghoorhood are by no means as free from malaria
now as they ougt5 TO be. There Is no reason why
they should not be models Of whoesomeness, If
the river were properly cared for. Congress ought
70 give more than q passing thought to this
matter OF sanitation In Washington are gathered
the chief servants of the republic. The people
who elect them 10 Office have no notion OF sending
them away from healthful homes to place where
their constitutions will be broken down prena-
tureiy. The nation cannot AFFORD TO waste its best
strength In such q way. For the protection OF its
own members, OF the President and his Cabinet, Of
the judges OF the highest federal court, OF the
noted military and naval Officers who have their
headquarters here and of the thousands OF men and
ployed In the government departments it be-
hooves Congress TO make Washington the safest
city In the Union to spend the whole year IN
The people are willing TO make the necessary ex-
pendlture, and the Potomac improvement has
reached stage where the prompt application Of
half-million dollars Will insure the permanency
Of the work. Why should the appropriation be
limited to less than half that sum- Let the senate
Set an example OF real prudence for the House to
follow, and put the figures where they ought to be.
The claim agents are making valiant fight for
the dependent pension bill, and many OF the men,
bers OF Congress who were originally misled into
supporting IL respond favorably appeals their
obstinacy. The argument that the bill meets
public want by disposing OF a burdensOne surplus,
though somewhat extraordinary In its nature Is
perhaps as weighty consideration as any adj
Vanced by the advocates Of the bill. Nearly every
Congressman, however, has some other scheme OF
spending the surplus, and the public demand It's
use for the purposes Of national defence having in
view the next war rather than the last. In addi-
tion TO exhausting the surplus the bill Will fasten
upon the taxpayers Of the nation annual charge
OF at least seventy millions which must be paid
whether times are good or bad. The arrears bill
was also supported by the argument that IL would
ahate the nuisance or i then-existing surplus and
go no further. The representation was that 1t
would cost only twenty-five millions, but IL has
already cost two hundred and eighteen millions
The cost Of the present bill Is indefinite It's vast
ness but unqueStionably IL viii rtd us OF the pres
ent surplus and spare us the necessity OF diSposing
u future SURPRISES. outside OF its merits as a
surplus abater and pension agent enricher the
bill seems 10 have no strong recommendations
The soldier vote will not be won by charity
lav1shed Unfortunately upon the just and un-
Just, even favOring the unworthy by putting bum
mers and skulhing towards upon the honor roll
with wounded veterans. But II IL were possible TO
conceive that every eX-SOdier, the hero as well as
the coward, could be thus disgracefully bribed
and bought, then the buyers would need to coz
'front.' the taxpayers OF the nation. No public SEN
timent Ia more unmistakable than that which
Calls halt In the matter OF indiscriminate pen
Eons. The republic has not been ungrateful in
rewarding the deserving among It's defenders
But &c Is IN no mood 10 scatter among the unde-
Serving the millions which IL needs Tor guns and
Ships and forts and other national requirements OF
Dressing importance.
II y said that Congressman Willis proposes to
Play the dog in the manager, and prevent the Dis
trict from having another day the consideration
Of rs affairs He threatens Amendments slIbstI-
turins the consideration Of the educational! bill for
THAT OF District affairs, IL the committee On rules
so much proposes this favor for the District He
does this probably moi from hostility 70 the Dis
trfct but from zeal in supporting the educational
q
latOr ~. :rse district as well as national le0is
l1or, and In that capacity has certain duties Is
II not enough that the affairs o, the District have
less legislative attention than those OF any CON-
munity In the United States; that its exclusive
legislature fritterS away even the contemplate
allowance OF time granted IL, takes every opper-
tunlty 10 steal Its day TO consider other matters
and II forced To its disagreeable constitutional
duty usually appears without quorum so that no
measures except those without opposition can be
passed: The District has important matters be-
fore Congress- some OF which may be successful
even In a QuorumleSs session. Mr. Willis Cannot
aid the educational bill by denying the District its
Day, for unless his purpose 20 amend is abandoned
no proposition in favor OF the District will be pre-
scented. Cannot he and other representatives with
pet measures on hand remember for few minutes
that they constitute the local District legislature
and by common consent forbear TO press their
favored propositions 10 the point where District
interests viii be sacrficed without benent 10
themselves
The Mormons are having a cheerful laugh over
the ant!-polygamy bill The salt Lake Herald
considers it "a great triumph for the people OF
Utah and an inglorious defeat for the anti-Mor-
mon clique" IL seems that Mark Tapley and not
Brigham Young has taken ghostiy charge OF Nor
mondom-
bsg n RRR TIT y Il ssSs